US Government Approves VA Dental Program

The US government approved a national dental insurance program for veterans who are members of the Veterans Affairs health care as well as those belonging to the CHAMPVA program. The insurance rates depend on the location and the plan. Veterans can choose from three options, basic, enhanced, and comprehensive. Basic premium rate is $8 and it goes up to $27 for comprehensive plans.

In order to qualify for the dental insurance plan, veterans must sign up with the VA. It is the first time the VA has helped veterans with dental care with the exemption of veterans who are 100 percent service connected, VA Voc Rehab program, or have disability for a dental injury they got while they were in service.

For more information about the program, veterans can go to the Delta Dental website at deltadentalvadip.org. They can also visit the VA clinic nearest them.

The VA also has a Health Care for Homeless Veterans program with the objective of ending homelessness among veterans. The program also provides outreach to veterans who are at risk of losing their homes. The program has several outreach services in communities where homeless veterans reside. Some of the veterans need substance abuse treatment and mental health services. The program can direct the veterans to mental health and medical services, VA substance abuse, community resources, and housing solutions.

To qualify for the program, veterans must show that they don’t have a fixed, regular, and suitable nighttime residence. These include veterans who live in a shelter made to give temporary living accommodation. Some of the examples include transitional housing, or private or public place not designed to be used as a sleeping area.

The VA is also looking for volunteers to put US flags in local cemeteries to honor the veterans who died. This will be part of the Memorial Day events.

Photo by Defence Force[CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons